THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2022

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

J. NIEMEIER/A. Kontaveit

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Could you give us your initial thoughts on that match today.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I thought my opponent played a very good match. It was hard for me to control her big shots, because, you know, I haven't had the opportunity to prepare as well as I would have liked to.

Yeah, it was just tough out there. She played a really good match, and that's about it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You spoke there about not having the preparation that you wanted. Could you just talk to us about your experience of COVID and the sort of timeline and how it's affected your life and also your ability to practice, as well.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I had it a couple, two months ago, I think, or something like that. Then I tried to come back very quickly. I started training. It was low intensity, but I was still training every day. I think that was where I went wrong. Just thinking back at it, I probably should have given myself more time to recover.

Then I tried to play Rome. I mean, it was very difficult physically. It was a hot day. I remember it was very, very tough.

Also, at the French, I really struggled. I had like really big energy dips, and I was tired all the time. It was tough to wake up. I slept a lot all the time.

So, yeah, it was -- then after the French, I tried to start training again, and it just got worse. I started feeling more and more tired. Then I decided to take a complete break for a couple of weeks, I think, and I felt like my energy was starting to come back.

And, yeah, I started easier, started just with gym, and then it was only, I don't know, 10 days until Wimbledon.

I was thinking I wasn't going to come if I didn't think I could play a match or finish a match. I actually started feeling better in practice. I added tennis. Already felt pretty good.

But it's still -- I had, I don't know, a week to play tennis before a Grand Slam, so of course I'm not in the physical shape that I would like to be in.

Q. How long do you think it will take you to get back into shape?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I mean, it depends also how I'm feeling every day with fatigue and everything. But I'm thinking, you know, I'm going to go back home after, you know, depending how I do in doubles, of course, but after the tournament here and start doing fitness, I think, straightaway.

Then I think, I don't know, I think three, four weeks of good training will help me get back in decent shape.

Q. Have you been diagnosed with long COVID?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: They said it's too soon to diagnose me with long COVID, but I have been to loads of doctors and been checked. I mean, there is nothing physically wrong with my heart or lungs or anything.

So, yeah, just now I think I'm going to try and increase the training load as my energy feels better, too.

Q. Obviously it's now on the players themselves to test themselves and declare if they are feeling unwell or have COVID symptoms. I think maybe Alize Cornet has given some quotes that maybe there was some suspicion that maybe players weren't doing that in Paris. What's your sense of where we are at now with COVID? Do you think it's right that it's just on the players to say for themselves, and do you think they would declare?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, I don't know how to answer that question. You know, I think if you're sick, you shouldn't play anyway. Yeah, I mean, but I cannot speak for others. I don't know if people would declare or not.